50TH ANNIVERSARY OF LEEDS UNIVERSITY RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB AND THE BIRTH OF UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE RUGBY LEAGUE

That this House welcomes the 50th anniversary of Leeds University Rugby League Football Club, which was formed in 1967; notes that this moment was also the start of student and university rugby league as Leeds was the first university to approve rugby league as an official sport; praises the role of founding members Andrew Cudbertson, Jack Abernethy and Cec Thompson, the first black person to play for Great Britain, in starting the club and making it happen; further notes that Thompson and Cudbertson's contribution is recognised by two of University and College Rugby League's annual awards; notes that the official recognition of rugby league at Leeds University marked the start of a widespread growth in student rugby league; notes that there are now over 100 teams at universities and colleges in the UK; notes that the first university game was between Leeds and Liverpool in 1968; celebrates this anniversary and welcomes the erection of a blue plaque at the University of Leeds Student Union Old Bar by University of Leeds Vice Chancellor Sir Alan Langlands on 10 March 2017 during the 50th anniversary celebration weekend; looks forward to the 2017 Student Rugby League World Cup in Australia, the ninth time this tournament has taken place; and wishes all current and former Leeds University Rugby League and all current and former student and university rugby league clubs best wishes.